so, in a way, we have been very prepared all the time. but the change is, like you said, remarkable. it s remarkable because public opinion has moved so far so fast. just a year ago, polls suggested that 20 to 30% of finns liked the idea ofjoining nato. now it s 75% to 80%. yes. is that based on a new level of fear of neighbouring russia? first of all, even though so many said a year ago that no reason to apply for membership in nato, they were not actually against nato. it was more like a rational or pragmatic opinion. we don t need it now. and that s why we kept on saying, our governments, that we keep the door open
interoperability with nato. our armament is, well, quite modern, us based, mostly. so, in a way, we have been very prepared all the time. but the changes, like you said, remarkable. it is remarkable because public opinion has moved so far so fast. just a year ago, polls suggested that 20 to 30% of firms liked the idea ofjoining nato, now it is 75 to 80%. is that based on a new level of fear of neighbouring russia? first of all, even though so many said a year ago that no reason to apply for membership of nato, they were not actually against nato, it was more like a rational or pragmatic opinion, we don t need it now, and that is why we kept on saying, our governments,
the details some stormy conditions. i will have the details later on the show. it s monday the 14th of february. our main story. the prime minister willjoin other leaders in last ditch efforts to pull russia back from the brink of invading ukraine. downing street says the crisis is at a criticaljuncture, with ukraine calling for talks with moscow in the next 48 hours. ukraine s ambassador to the uk says his country might meet a key russian demand, and drop its aim ofjoining nato, in order to avoid war. more than 130,000 russian troops have massed on the border with ukraine but the kremlin have repeatedly denied any intention of an attack. 0ur political correspondent jonathan blake has more. russian military manpower and firepower on the border with ukraine proof in plain sight, the west claims, that president putin is preparing for war. american forces arrived in the region yesterday in a show
the russian for peace. this is newsday on the bbc. i m karishma vaswani in singapore. our headlines: ukraine s ambassador to the uk has told the bbc that his country may contemplate dropping any ambitions ofjoining nato, in order to avoid military conflict with russia. police have cleared the remaining protesters blocking a key bridge between canada and the united states, after a week of disruption. we re now into the second week of the winter olympics in beijing. hosting a global sporting event is often seen as an opportunity for countries to project power and influence. and these games are no different. in the context of the ongoing covid pandemic and allegations of human rights abuse, the chinese authorities will be hoping the games can help them
encouragement ofjoining nato. you encouragement of “oining nato. you said ou encouragement ofjoining nato. you said you don t think russia will invade ukraine, what do you think will happen next? this invade ukraine, what do you think will happen next? invade ukraine, what do you think will happen next? this could go on, this standard will happen next? this could go on, this standard could will happen next? this could go on, this standard could go will happen next? this could go on, this standard could go on will happen next? this could go on, this standard could go on for - will happen next? this could go on, this standard could go on for some| this standard could go on for some time as you have just heard. the nato secretary general saying the troops might withdraw but they may leave their equipment behind, that is quite possible. the stand off will go on for quite some time. probably going back to my original point, the longer it goes on, then putin will think the greater